Splint



Sept. 12, 1939. V J. N. TESSIER 2,172,484

.SPLINT Filed Aug. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l VINVENTO(R\ 77. JWM/ Maw p 12, 1939- J. N. TESSIER 2,172,484

SPLINT Filed Aug. 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvsy oR v J2 -LWJ ORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to surgical appliances for use upon the limbs in cases of fracture or dislocation and to an improved metallic splint element adapted to be incorporated in a bandage or splint.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved and efiicient splint for use in the treatment of compound or simple fractures of the leg, fracture of the tibia, of the fibula, of the femur, or of the pelvis, and which will be useful in cases of dislocation of the hip bone where traction is needed, and in reduction of superimposed bones of the leg where pulling and weight is needed to bring them in apposition.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bandage and splint which will allay or prevent pain during transportation in cases of leg fractures; which will permit the patient to walk within a few hours after application of the bandage thereby accelerating healing through increased circulation induced by exercise of the leg, and which will possess other advantageous features hereinafter appearing.

A further object of this invention is to provide, as a new article of manufacture, a metallic splint element the use of which will permit the construction of a bandage or splint having the advantageous features referred to above.

To these ends I have provided certain improvements in bandages and splints and elements for incorporation therein, all as set forth in the following description, the several novel features of the invention being separately pointed out and defined in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bandage or splint element constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of said element, partly in section, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the bone structure of the lower leg of a human.

Figure 5 illustrates the relationship to this bone structure of a pair of elements like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when applied properly to the inner and outer sides of the leg. I

Figure 6 illustrates the first step in producing my new bandage or splint.

Figure '7 shows the bandage completed.

Figure 8 illustrates the manner in which my new bandage is utilized in applying traction to the leg to re-set broken or dislocated bones.

My new splint element is shown in detail in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and consists of a perculiarly constructed longitudinally rigid metallic bar or brace it! two of which are adapted to be applied to the opposite sides of the lower leg of the patient, said bar or brace being made at its upper end with a yoke H to embrace the upper part of said lower leg just below the knee and. at its lower end with a socket [2 to receive within it the ankle joint protuberance produced by the malleolus upon its side of the leg.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, two of these splint elements are ordinarily employed in making up a bandage, one disposed longitudinally upon the inner side of the leg and the other disposed longitudinally upon the outer side thereof.

In the best form of my invention each splint element l0 consists of two sheet metal sections one of which is T-shaped and includes the yoke l l and a shank 19 formed with a longitudinal slot 20 and the other of which includes the socket l2 and a shank 2! formed with a longitudinal slot 22. The two shanks i9 and 2| are made arcuate in cross-section in order to strengthen the same and are fitted one against the other in overlapping relationship with their slots 20 and 22 in register as shown so that they can be longitudinally adjusted relatively to lengthen or shorten the element thereby to fit the same to the part of the patients leg to which it is applied.

After adjustment of the element to fit the leg of the patient the two sections thereof are rigidly fixed in their adjusted condition by two clamping devices each of which comprises a bolt 23 occupying the slots 20 and 22 and a nut 24. By arranging both bolts within a single slot formed through the shank of each section a maximum range of adjustment is possible equal to the sum of the lengths of the two slots and the two sections are held against relative pivotal displacement.

One of the above described splint elements with its clamps loosened is fitted to the inside of the patients leg with its yoke ll occupying a position just below the internal condyle flange of the tibia, Fig. 4, and with its socket l2 fitted on to the internal malleolus of said tibia, after which its clamping devices are set up tight to render the element longitudinally rigid.

The other element of the pair employed, with its clamps loosened, is fitted to the outside of the patients leg with its yoke I I occupying a position just below the head of the fibula and its socket l2 fitted on to the external malleolus of said fibula, after which its clamping devices are set up tight to render the element longitudinally rigid.

The superior extremities of the tibia and fibula provide an enlargement in the leg that is included within the upper dotted line triangle of Fig. 8 and a bandage including a pair of my new elements In utilizes this enlargement as an abutment which prevents upward displacement of the bandage relatively to the leg. Also, the inferior extremities of the tibia and fibula provide an enlargement in the leg that is included within the lower dotted line triangle of Fig. 8 and the bandage utilizes this enlargement as an abutment which prevents downward displacement thereof relatively to the leg.

In constructing a bandage for the lower leg as in the case of fracture of the fibula or tibia, plaster of Paris bandages l and I6, Fig. 6, are first appliedto the leg at the places included within the dotted line triangles of Fig. 4, then 'the two splints are placed in position at opposite sides of the leg with their yokes H on the bandage l5 immediately below the superior extremities of the fibula and tibia and with their sockets l2 on the bandages l6 opposite the internal and external malleoli, and then outer wrappings of plaster of Paris bandages 25 and 26, Fig. '7, are applied over the wrappings l5 and I6 and the ends of the splint elements.

It will be clear that when the plaster of Paris wrappings become set each pair of wrappings Iii-25 and [6-26 form one homogeneous block or hardened mass within which the proximate end portions of the two splint elements are fixedly and completely embedded.-

Thus the completed bandage provides astrong and rigid leg reinforcing and supporting structure which prevents any strains, stresses or loads being imposed upon the portions of the fibula and tibia between their superior andinferior extremities, it being understood that in the completed bandage the nuts 24 are set up tight.

Thus all portions of the bones of the lower leg between the yokes II and sockets l2 are rigidly held in position and relieved of pressure applied to either end thereof. Consequentlyit is possible for a patient having a fractured fibula, a

fractured tibia,:or fractured external malleolus to walk in a comparatively few hours after application of the bandage.

' The socket IZ of. each element I0 is formed with an outer ring or annulus 21, Figs. 1 and 3, adapted to surround the malleolus and with a tongue 28 within said ring that. is'more or less longitudinally concaved upon its inner side to fit the outer side thereof. This tongue is a medial extensionof theshank 2| and is formed with a hole 29 and a flute or crimp 3B which provides a short longitudinal groove. upon the inner side of the'tongue. v H

When applying traction to the limb as in Fig. 8 a bail-shaped piece of wire or the like 3! has its opposite end portions arranged within. the grooves of the fiutes30 of the pair of splint elements and hooked or tied to the tongues so. that when power is applied to the bail 3| as indicated by the arrow 32 it will be transmitted to the entire lower leg if nuts 24 are tight, or to the inferior extremities only of the tibia and fibula if the nuts are loose.

In order to avoid subjecting the patient to pain or discomfort through direct contact of the metallic bars with the leg, cushioning layers I3 and [4 of cotton or the like (Fig. 8) may be provided between the leg and the opposite end portions of said bar.

The two splints III are then fixed in position by windings of adhesive tape 11 and 18, the former extending around the yokes II and the latter around the shanks thereof adjacent to the sockets 12 as shown in Fig. 8.

leg by applying the power while the nutsarerset up tight as in Fig, 8.

What I claim is: a

1. As a newarticle of manufacture, a longitudinally rigid splint element comprising an up per T-shaped sheet metal section made at its upper end with laterally and oppositely extending arcuate arms which provide a yoke to embrace the leg of the patientbelow and in close 1 proximity to the enlargements at thesuperior extremities of the tibia and fibula and also made with a longitudinally slotted shank extending downwardly from the middle of said yoke; a lower sheet metal section made'at its lower end with a socket to be occupied by the malleolus of the leg and also made with a longitudinally slotted shank extending upwardly from said socket and overlapping the shank of the upper section, and a plurality of bolts occupying the slots of the shanks of both sections by which the latter are rigidly fastened together and normally held against relative displacement longitudinally and laterally, said bolts being operable to permit relative adjustment of said shanks longitudinally to fit the length of the splint to the length of the leg of the wearer.

2. A splint element constructed in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the two slotted shanks are made transversely arcuate.

3. A split element constructed in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said socket'is an annulus provided at the lower end of said lower section.

4. A splint element constructed in accordance JOSEPH N. TESSIER. 

